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US 6,583,891 B2Granted
Systems and methods of estimating sheet supplies in a printing system
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorDavid G. Joyce
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for estimating a copy sheet supply in a printer. An exemplary system monitors mechanical motion in the normal operation of a printer to perform an initial estimate. After additional monitoring, the exemplary system may refine the initial estimate. An advantage of the exemplary system is ease of implementation with relatively few, or no, dedicated mechanical parts.
Claims13
A method for a printing system, the method comprising:
- measuring a quantity to raise a platform from a first position;
- counting a number of sheets between elevation cycles;
- and
- estimating a number of sheets on the platform in response to the measured quantity wherein the estimating includes using the counted number to estimate a number of sheets on the platform.
1 more element
A printing system comprising:
- a first member, the first member being configured to hold copy sheets;
- a second member;
- an actuator configured to move the first and second members relative to each other;
- a register that stores a quantity determined after operation of the actuator
- an estimator that estimates a number of copy sheets in response to the quantity;
- and
- a counter that determines a number of sheets between elevation cycles, wherein the estimator is responsive to the counter.
4 more elements
A printing system comprising:
- means for measuring a quantity to raise a platform from a first position;
- means for counting a number of sheets between elevation cycles;
- and
- means for estimating a number of sheets on the platform in response to the measured quantity, the estimating means is responsive to the means for counting.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.